A citizen-led report is urging the federal government to take immediate action to tackle the spread of disinformation on social media.

The Canadian Citizens’ Assembly on Democratic Expression was commissioned by the Department of Canadian Heritage to look at how Canada ought to regulate digital platforms.

Assembly Chair Peter MacLeod, says they gathered 42 randomly-selected Canadians to come up with ideas on how social media can be regulated.

The group spent four days in Ottawa in November and another three Saturdays online to learn the ways in which social media platforms work, and the degree to which they need to be held responsible for online harm, specifically the spread of disinformation.

Newfoundlander Stephanie Tucker was among the group.

She says they all agreed disinformation spread through social media is a pressing and serious issue.

She says it takes many forms.

That includes targeted campaigns against political parties, platforms or politicians, or targeted campaigns against religious or racial groups.

That increases polarization says Tucker, dividing society and increasing the perception of threat.

“It’s not telling the truth,” says Tucker.

The group recommended public information campaigns, a centre for education about the spread of disinformation, and that digital media companies be more transparent about the results of their algorithms, as well as labelling of information as true and verified.